Elevated cell-free serum DNA detected in patients with myocardial infarction

• Published in: Clinica chimica acta Vol. 327; no. 1; pp. 95 - 101
• Main Authors: Chang, Christine P.-Y, Chia, Rhu-Hsin, Wu, Tsu-Lan, Tsao, Kuo-Chien, Sun, Chien-Feng, Wu, James T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Cardiology. Vascular system; Case-Control Studies; Cell-free DNA; CK-MB; Coronary heart disease; Creatine Kinase - blood; Creatine Kinase, MB Form; DNA - blood; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Heart; Humans; Isoenzymes - blood; Medical sciences; Myocardial Infarction - blood; Myocardial Infarction - diagnosis; Tropical medicine; Troponin I - blood; CRP; LDH; Cell-free DNA; CK-MB; MI; bp; TnI; Creatine kinase MB; Human; Infarct; Enzyme; Transferases; Free form; Biological marker; Cardiovascular disease; Exploration; Coronary heart disease; Myocardial disease; Troponin; DNA; Clinical biology; Myocardium; Diagnosis; C reactive protein
• ISSN: 0009-8981; 1873-3492
• DOI: 10.1016/S0009-8981(02)00337-6

Background: Cell-free DNA is detectable in the circulation. Increased cell-free DNA has been detected in cancer patients and individuals with trauma. We want to know whether patients with myocardial infarction (MI) also have increased cell-free DNA in their blood. Methods: We used a QIAamp blood kit for DNA extraction from serum and the PicoGreen DNA kit for quantification. DNA patterns of serum DNA were established by gel electrophoresis on 2.5% metarphor gel. Results: The average serum DNA in MI patients ( N=55) was 511±398 ng/ml, more than 10-fold higher than normal (36.3±23.8 ng/ml, n=274). Patients with increased CK-MB (>4%) were associated with highly increased concentrations of cell-free DNA (93.4%). There was no correlation between the concentration of cell-free DNA and the concentrations of CK-MB, troponin I and C-reactive protein. In serial specimens, we found that the cell-free DNA rose early, but peaked behind CK-MB. A slightly diffused DNA ladder could be found with pooled cell-free DNA from MI patients by electrophoresis with the smallest DNA band at only a few hundred base pairs. Conclusions: Cell-free DNA in MI patients is increased in patients diagnosed with MI, and may complement troponin and CK-MB in a multiple marker test format.